Questions answered
The things people ask us before they join.
Health insurance documents are long by necessity. This page is the short version, the questions our member care team hears most, answered plainly.
FAQ'S
Joining & Eligibility
- Who is eligible for a membership?
- Anyone living, working or studying outside their home country, along with their partner, children and dependants. You do not need to be Australian, and you do not need an employer to arrange it for you.
- Is there an upper age limit?
- No. New members can join at any age, and existing memberships renew for life. Premiums are banded by age, so they rise gradually as you get older.
- Do I need a medical examination?
- Usually not. Most memberships are set up on a declaration of your medical history. Only in unusual cases will we ask for a report from your doctor before confirming terms.
- How quickly can cover start?
- Cover can begin the day after your application is accepted and the first premium is taken. Choose your own start date during the quote.
FAQ'S
What is and is not covered
- How are pre-existing conditions treated?
- Anything you have had symptoms of, treatment for, or advice about before joining is disclosed at application. Depending on the condition we may cover it fully, cover it after a period, or exclude it — and we tell you which before you pay anything.
- Are there waiting periods?
- Accident and emergency cover starts immediately. Maternity has a longer wait — ten to twelve months depending on the plan — and routine dental and optical benefits become available after three months.
- Is pregnancy included?
- Routine maternity, delivery and newborn care are included on Advance and Elite once the waiting period has passed. Complications of pregnancy are treated as a medical condition and are covered on all plans.
- What is never covered?
- Cosmetic surgery without a medical reason, fertility treatment beyond investigation, self-inflicted injury, experimental treatment and anything arising from professional sport or war risks. The policy wording lists each exclusion in full.
- Does cover include the United States?
- Elite includes the USA as standard. Essential and Advance exclude it, though Advance can be extended to include it for an additional premium.
FAQ'S
Living with the policy
- I am relocating to another country. What happens?
- Tell us the new country and the date. Your membership continues without re-underwriting; the premium may change to reflect local medical costs, and we confirm any difference before it applies.
- Can I add my partner or a new baby later?
- Yes. Family members can be added at any point in the year, and a newborn can be added within thirty days of birth without underwriting when a parent has been covered for the full maternity waiting period.
- How does renewal work?
- We write to you before the anniversary with the renewal terms. Nothing lapses without notice, and you can change plan level, area of cover or excess at renewal.
- Can I cancel?
- Yes. There is a fourteen-day cooling-off period with a full refund if no claim has been made, and after that you can cancel at the next renewal or mid-term subject to the terms in your wording.
- Why did my premium change?
- Premiums move with your age band, your country of residence and general medical inflation in the region you live in — not because of the claims you personally made.
Still not sure?
Our member care team will talk you through the wording before you commit to anything — no obligation, no sales script.